Different types of sex education effect rates of teen pregnancies, STD's, and healthy relationships for young adults in America. The debate between abstinence-only education and comprehensive sex education is deeply rooted in moral and religious values. Rates of teen pregnancy in America are steadily declining, but sex education should include more information than merely how to prevent pregnancy. In order to remedy the shocking trends of sexual abuse that are sweeping over our nation, we must dig deeper into the core of our education system. If healthy relationships and the concept of consent are taught from an early age, young adults will have higher self confidence and a greater respect for their peers.

My high school was located in a conservative community, and I received abstinence-only education. This means that the majority of students from my school learned about their bodies and the bodies of their peers through the internet, rarely an entirely reliable source. Many myths were accepted as the truth, and my entire high school continued on with their lives in ignorance of their own bodies. My mother was shocked and angry when she realized the type of sex education my school offered, she assumed we were taught a more comprehensive version of what we were receiving. Now in college, I am enrolled in Psychology of Human Sexual Behavior and am learning things I feel I should have known long before this point in my life. We owe it to young adults to teach them about their bodies. As long as certain topics such as female and male anatomy and sex stay taboo, we will continue to have problems in society. Teen pregnancy, rates of STD's, and the rape culture in America today all have the potential to change if young adults are taught about heathy relationships and their own bodies from a young age. 

I value education, free will, and human nature. Natural human urges and emotions are healthy and normal, but often times societal pressure stifles them. Young adults that are ready to engage in intimate activities should have access to contraception and know how to use it. Many young adults do not know that a woman is 85% likely to get pregnant if she is sexually active for a year and does not use any form of contraception. Improperly teaching kids about their bodies and the natural feelings that come along with them can lead to shame and insecurity. If students are comfortable with their bodies, they are much more likely to pursue healthy sexual and nonsexual relationships.

In Rachel Sanoff's article, 7 Problems with The State of Sex Ed in America Today, and How We Can Make It Better, the main claim is that comprehensive sex education is an unalienable right to young people. Abstinence-only education often teaches in a way that makes sexuality seem dirty and shameful, which leads students confused about their natural feelings. This source appeals to the audience because it addresses other issues within our society that are widely hated, such as rape culture and slut shaming. Most parents want their children to make healthy decisions with their chosen partners, and this article claims young adults that receive a more comprehensive sex education are more likely to negotiate condom usage and get out of unhealthy relationships. Rachel Sanoff is a credible published author, but her bias is clear. Although she is clearly a proponent of comprehensive sex education, she uses many sources to back up her claims. Sanoff's argument is strong and since it was published by Bustle.com, it is extremely accessible to the American public.

In The Truth About Abstinence-Only Programs, eleven common beliefs of abstinence-only proponents are addressed and disproved. The article claims that information about contraception and condoms is a basic human right of youth and the main arguments made by abstinence-only proponents are easily disproven. The audience is adults perhaps on the fence on what type of sex education they think is best, and The Truth About Abstinence-Only Programs provides strong evidence for comprehensive sex education. The article proves that abstinence-only does not delay the age at which teens become sexually active and is not a factor in the decline of teen pregnancies in the United States. Many of the facts stated in this article might even convert a believer of the abstinence-only program. The article explicitly states that only fifteen percent of American adults believe schools should teach abstinence from sexual intercourse.  There is not a particular author stated for this article, it is instead posted on the Advocates for Youth website. This suggests that the article was written by multiple authors, and the foundation believes so strongly in it that they present it on their website as simple facts.

The article The Truth About Abstinence Only Programs from the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States website shows how our government continues to fund abstinence-only sex education programs. The article claims how ridiculous the situation is, with today's congress continuing to funnel over one-and-a-half billion taxpayer dollars into abstinence-only-until-marriage programs that are proven not to work. Although there have been significant drops in federal funding towards these programs since the George W. Bush administration, many American adults should still be concerned about where their tax dollars are going. Considering the statement by The Truth About Abstinence Only Programs that only fifteen percent of adults are in favor of abstinence-only programs, this allotment of money is a serious misinterpretation of what the American public wants. Most of the information in this article are taken directly from United States laws, so it is largely fact based. There is little bias in A History of Federal Funding for Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs, but there is no stated author. Because the article was published on the official SIECUS website, I consider it reliable and useful.

The facts and studies comparing comprehensive sex education to abstinence-only sex education cannot be argued. There is overwhelming evidence that abstinence-only education is not effective. Only programs that are proven to work should receive federal funding, yet abstinence-only programs continue to receive taxpayer dollars today. Abstinence-only is largely a political stance, which should not be endorsed by the government due to the separation of church and state. This use of federal funding is especially preposterous considering the program is proven not to work. An argument can be made on the basis of a religious and moral standpoint, and every person is entitled to their beliefs, however, it is a right to be fully educated on one's own body. For the individuals that choose to wait until marriage to have sex, there are many components of the comprehensive sex education program that would describe effective ways for students to abstain. A stronger sex education background creates students that stand strong in their beliefs and make careful, conscious decisions about their intimate relationships.

